#shoot and shinola!

[shady-shrub]

has everyone else watched and/or listened to npmd everyday since it came out or is it just me. guys seriously this musical is too much i can't. ITS RUINING MY LIFE PLEASE HELP?!?!?

i feel like if i had a week to be silly i could make a complete lore video. every detail, reference, foreshadowing. all the nightmare times for the 4th time, all the musicals, all the posts from people in these productions.

ANYWAY. i rewatched tgwdlm for the 2nd time this week and. npmd is still my favorite BUT I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the bits that make up this first guy. THE AUDIENCE IS SO FUN! look at the reactions. love the trash can scene AND I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO NOT YOUR SEED. SUCH A BOP and then bill dies. :( BUT LOOK AT THE LIGHTING. i thought the background was the coolest forever. ESPECIALLY as the tv/radio paul listens to. ehhejfjd THE JOKES. they still make me laugh?? prof hidgens is such a goofy. he is insane, but at least he gives emma and ted a cool performance! ITS ALL SO!! and as time goes on it just gets better?? black friday is!!!!

i honestly didn't like black friday when it came out. i dunno why it just didn't hit me like tgwdlm. then i watched jon's watch party on it. rewatched 3 times that day and??? I love it so much????

ALSO. sorry but nightmare times SLAP. first one i was :/ BUT IT JUST GOT SO GOOD ONWARDS EHDHEHR. hey melissa is not that bad guys. and dream machine isn't either okay. im normal and all of you guys who disagree are the weird ones.

(fr tho i dont know why people don't like them. can someone explain because genuinely confuzzled? i love them so much mhmhm, it's not anymore horrific than any other story HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN HONEY QUEEN??)

sorry for this. whatever it is im just so full of thoughts and need to let them escape and REBLOGGING AND LOOKING AT THE SAME PHOTOS ISNT DOING IT ANYMORE.

fr tho wish i had more time to delve into this normal subject ive been lightly indulging in the past few weeks.

[gone-to-oregone]

Me, trying to go to sleep:

My brain:

sHoOT n’ sHiNoLA!!

[screechingkingdomhottub]

DEFENDING NPMD

Time to defend nerdy prudes must die to some of you for not appreciating the utter masterpiece it is as my current hyperfixation.

"These teens aren't realistic they're caricatures" - Sure that could easily be true, and say it is true then it's a high school piece based on cliques/stereotypes that people don't necessarily fit into in reality? That doesn't make it bad, heathers and mean girls are classics at this point. But also I was 3 of these people in secondary. I had an anime phase and I was friends with weebs, they act exactly like richie, like...I told so many people "Believe It!" with a thumbs up. I even played a naruto song to classmates and talked about how he was my idol as a 13 year old...I cringe about that to this day but it's a REAL PHASE. Then we have Ruth who is so horny and desperate for love...literally my teenage life are you kidding? Especially with the theatre reenactments thinking I could do things if I didn't get anxious like...poor girl. I'd like to think I was Peter at one point, I have low blood sugar and like pokemon cards and got decent grades and had a bit of a need to prove myself? But I was probably closer to Grace like ya boi has religious suppressions but I'm catholic so clearly not a person of faith in Grace's eyes haha.

"There's too many rhymes - class of twenty twenty worn"

I think this was intentional? Well not really but also like it makes sense, Jeff said the reason for the snapping being wrong in bully the bully is because they're nerds and that's uncool in jazz which kinda leads me to believe this theory. Also the original lyric was "There's no way to fix the class of 2026" but had to change cause year. One of the songs that doesn't rhyme obsessively is "The Summoning" which is sang primarily by the lords in black as opposed to the high school kids. Now, I don't want to offend anyone but high schoolers are idiots. Everyone is an idiot but high schoolers tend to be egotistical idiots. My theory is the rhyming is sort of a meta commentary of the ages of these characters, believing that things should be rhyming because that's what they've been taught. It keeps the norm of the school also, it shows it fits the standard representation of schools in media and then symbolises this through the representation of a standard song. Whereas the lords in black have some off lyrics, off rhymes, especially here: "Nibbly wants a sacrifice And Wiggly wants his wrath We dancе around the pentagram And take all our kingdoms back" It doesn't fit the other rhymes that happen earlier on sang by the high schoolers. This could represent the lords in black are interfering with the norm, they're older and wiser and follow their own rules. "But screech what about hatchet town" they don't have the same power as the lords in black, the chaos and paranoia is getting to them but there is still more off rhymes than in others. "What are off rhymes what are you doing" A rhyme is like fart and smart. An off-rhyme is like fart "monster" and "Gone sir" it doesn't entirely rhyme but it has that feeling. There's probably a lot more fascinating things that you can get into with this "BUUUT Heathers did it without them sounding so cheesy and unaware" my answer to that is, heathers is fILLED WITH EMOS. Have you spoken to an emo? They'll go like "Even the roaring waves of the sea cannot mimic the immense drowning I feel by my emotions" like dude chill. NPMD doesn't have emos in it really...Everyone is really happy considering the situation.

"Who says cool beans anymore?" - This is the funniest criticism to me like, do you think Grace Chasity is supposed to represent a modern day view? She's the one who says it first! "Shoot and shinola", "tickle on my mommy spot" all that is fine by you but cool beans is outdated??? "But why do the others join herrr" ok well the obvious reason there is they're INSIDE A HAUNTED HOUSE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS VERY SUS AND THEIR WORST BULLY IS COMING AND ALSO GRACE IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE KEY LIKE I WOULD JUST GO WITH THAT. But if not, nerds quote outdated memes all the time. "Excellent" reminded me of naruto the abridged series, like that's from 2008 but im still there. Or like the phandom are still simping for glabellas and onomatopoeic microwaves. The starkid fandom would never reference an old musical, the medallion said that was dumb so we're not doing that...wait Most valid stuff I've seen is about steph's characterisation which I can do a whole post about like mariah is phenomenal as always but there's a lot of telling not showing.

Also I'm back into starkid

[trailnapped]

HOLY SHOOT AND SHINOLA replies will actually happen tonight. rn watching the princess bride which is lowkey em’s fantasy

[kleenexwoman]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"It's not so bad if you're dedicated," Napoleon said. "I like the idea of security. I've wanted to do something like this ever since I was twelve, and I realized, look...the world is really fucked up, you know? You can get attacked for no reason. Things just fall apart and go crazy for no reason. We need people to make sure that doesn't happen."

"Okay," Illya said, "and the way to do that isn't to charge into places you think might be dangerous with a bunch of guns and body armor."

"It's not just charging in and shooting up shit," Napoleon said. "They provide restructuring services, too. They fix the economy, find someone to be in charge, institute democracy...all that good stuff."

"Sometimes you need to go in and kick ass before you can fuck around with democracy." Angel said from the kitchen. "Can you think of a better way to make sure people aren't just bombing the shit out of each other? It's all about pacifying."

from "bananas and guns and bananas" https://archiveofourown.org/works/296945/chapters/475602

I started writing this in 2011. Ten years after 9/11. The Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street were on everyone's mind. I'd gotten into Man from UNCLE, a premier example of 60's spy-fi, during my college years when I was starting to learn about the American history I didn't get in high school--I was fangirling over secret agents in fiction while reading about how the CIA sent troops into Central and South America to destabilize economies and ultimately buy up cheap land from the puppet dictators they installed. The Secret Service fuckin investigated my little brother for signing a dumb Internet petition! I was working at OnStar, sending weak-ass apology emails to people who were angry at the company about not pulling their ads from the future Worst President To Date's reality show, where he was sowing the seeds of fascism. Then I started getting emails from people who were upset because OnStar was going to track their every move and tell the cops if they'd broken a traffic law (that was not what was happening, actually). Anyway, here you have skater prep Napoleon trying to figure out if he should join the equivalent of Blackwater or not (hint: don't join a mercenary army to invade the Middle East), which I am equating with THRUSH because I am not trying to be subtle.

Billboards popped up and fell away as Bucky sped south. Bulova watches, the new Ford Hydra seating eight, Who Murdered Me? Call If You Know, ginger ale, potato chips, Wrongful Death? Make Them Pay, menthol cigarettes, Quit Smoking Now, N’Jadaka Stevens for Mayor, smooth Canadian whiskey, Did the Crime? Don’t Do Time, God Loves You. The billboards gave way to a twinkling fairyland with arching towers that belched smoke and flames and burned the inside of Bucky’s nostrils, and then billboards again for Marathon oil, the new Ford Othala, Hill’s Clean-Burning Propane, petroleum jelly, plastic bags and plastic toys and water in plastic bottles, more and more and more billboards until everything was hidden behind concrete and advertisements.

from "Coffee in Paradise" https://archiveofourown.org/works/33429637?view_full_work=true

Bulova watches: Detroit has Shinola watches, but the Bulova watch was the first ever commercial, and I can only imagine what kind of weird anxiety might have plagued me if I was innocently watching TV and without warning or explanation a test card watch appeared on my screen and ticked for a full minute. The new Ford Hydra seating eight and the Ford Othala: Henry Ford was a huge anti-Semite and a megalomaniac and literally killed people for striking and fucked up not just the American worker but also the American school system and any hope Detroit ever had for a decent public transportation system and ooh I hate him I hate him I hate him. Anyway, Othala or Odal is the rune equivalent for O, which means "inheritance," and which happens to be the first letter of Odin's name. Neo-Nazis like this because it's easy and they are stupid, and also because of the whole heritage/Odinist thing. Odin's ACTUAL rune is Ansuz aka Os, which means "god" but also means "voice or mouth" and is considered by many to be a rune of divine inspiration. Who Murdered Me? Call If You Know, Wrongful Death? Make Them Pay, Did the Crime? Don’t Do Time, God Loves You: These are all billboards I've seen around Detroit. Tiplines for murders, especially with the faces of the victims, absolutely designed to produce a huge guilt reaction. Plenty of wrongful death lawyers, usually medical malpractice or injury lawyers. Did you know that the Open and Obvious Doctrine, as passed by the Michigan Supreme Court, rules that it's basically your fault if you get hurt by something you can see is wrong? Even if you're fucking blind and literally can't see it? Look up Sidorowicz v. Chicken Shack. Anyway, so here we have finding the killer, getting recompense, the question of prison, and ultimate forgiveness. THEMES. ginger ale, potato chips, menthol cigarettes, Quit Smoking Now, smooth Canadian whiskey: The ginger ale is obviously Vernor's and the potato chips are Better Made--if you like the burnt chips, you should check out their Rainbow Chips because they are ALL THE BURNT CHIPS. They're my favorite. Consider this a recommendation. The smooth Canadian whiskey is a sneaky reference to my great-grandfather, who liked whiskey so much it was his Purple Gang nickname. They got it from Canada. Also, I realized recently that literally the only thing I miss about smoking cigarettes (besides that they're cheaper than weed) is when I got the ones with the little ball of mint oil inside the filters and I got to pop them. I make my friends who smoke let me do it so that I don't start smoking again. N'Jadaka Stevens for Mayor: Killmonger there, running for mayor. The billboards gave way to a twinkling fairyland with arching towers that belched smoke and flames and burned the inside of Bucky’s nostrils: When you cross the Detroit River via I-75 there's actual Detroit on on side and on the other there's a Fucking Gigantic oil refinery. @teadrinkingwolfgirl wrote a poem comparing an oil refinery in Texas to a fairyland and that really stuck with me, it does look eerily like a fairy city especially in the dark when it's all twinkling lights and towers. Marathon oil, the new Ford Othala, Hill’s Clean-Burning Propane, petroleum jelly, plastic bags and plastic toys and water in plastic bottles: all petroleum products being advertised around the refinery! You can get really cheap gas at the Marathon attached to the refinery. I assume it's also freshest and tastiest there. To the cars, I mean. Hill's Clean-Burning Propane is a nod to Hank Hill.

ok I'm p. tired I'll do the rest tomorrow

[rabbitcruiser]

DUMBO, New York City (No. 3)

The area has emerged as one of New York City's premier arts districts, with a cluster of for-profit art galleries such as the Klompching Gallery, and such not-for-profit institutions as the St. Ann's Warehouse and the A.I.R. Gallery.

Chef Jacques Torres opened a chocolate factory in Dumbo in December 2000. Other culinary businesses in the area include Grimaldi's, Ample Hills Creamery, Almondine Bakery, and the River Café, all clustered in Fulton Landing, also home to Bargemusic, a floating venue for classical music. John Fluevog, a Canadian shoe designer, opened a store on Main Street in November 2017. Celebrity fans of his art-deco inspired shoes include Kit Harington, Woody Harrelson, and Beyoncé.

The first public space in the neighborhood was Fulton Ferry, followed by Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park. The first six acres of Brooklyn Bridge Park, a joint state/city venture under development, were opened in March 2010. The Cliffs at DUMBO is a 7,800 square foot outdoor climbing gym located in the Main Street section of Brooklyn Bridge Park, and is the largest outdoor bouldering gym in North America.The building at 200 Water Street, which the Brillo Manufacturing Co. once occupied, is being renovated as a high-end condo building.

The DUMBO Archway is a popular location for film shoots, art exhibitions, live music, large-scale events, and watch parties for events like the World Cup.The trailer for Joker, the 2019 film by Todd Phillips, features actor Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker running through the archway. The Archway also hosts the Brooklyn Flea every Sunday from April to October. The outdoor market features 80 vendors, and the products range from secondhand goods to custom-made jewelry.

Gleason's Gym, located on Water Street, is the oldest boxing gym in New York. Many champions have trained there, including Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. The gym has been located in DUMBO since the 1980s. It moved from 77 Front Street to its current location at 130 Water Street in 2016. The legendary boxing coach Hector Roca still teaches at the Water Street location. In addition to boxing champions, Roca has trained many actors, including Wesley Snipes, Hilary Swank, Jennifer Lopez, and John Leguizamo.

The renovation of Empire Stores on Water Street was completed in 2017. Previously, it had been a Civil War era coffee warehouse. It was converted to mixed-use retail and office space, and it includes West Elm's global flagship store. Other retailers in Empire Stores include Detroit-based watchmaker Shinola and the café and accessories store, FEED Projects. In May 2017, the Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) opened a new branch in Empire Stores (its main location is in Brooklyn Heights). BHS features exhibits and artifacts relating to DUMBO's industrial past. In May 2019, Time Out Market opened in Empire Stores. The food hall features 21 local vendors, including the Breads Bakery and DUMBO's renowned pizzeria, Juliana's. 

Source: Wikipedia

[bureauofstupidity]

COP MAKES STUPID MISTAKE? OR MANSLAUGHTER?

By John Peccavi April 14, 2021

You've probably heard of the guy who couldn't tell shit from Shinola. You've also probably heard about the cop who fired her pistol, thinking it was a Taser.

At worst, the guy only wound up with stinking shoes. In the cop's case, a 20–year–old man is dead.

Police in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota – a suburb of Minneapolis – stopped a car with expired license registration. When officers learned of outstanding warrants on the driver, Daunte Wright, they tried to arrest him. He resisted.

Officer Kimberly Potter warned the man she was going to tase him and then shot him, not with her Taser but with her gun. A bodycam recorded her exclaiming, "Holy shit!"

To the police chief, it sounded like a mistake. Maybe it was. A really, really stupid mistake.

But was it? Consider these facts:

Officer Potter was no rookie. She'd been on the police force a quarter century, since 1995. Isn't that long enough to tell a Taser from a Glock? Even by feel?

The police department had instructed officers to wear their firearm on one side of the body, the side with the dominant hand, and their Taser on the other.

The loaded pistol weighs more than 34 ounces. A Taser weighs 8 ounces.

Lawyers for the victim's family issued a statement disputing that the shooting was accidental: "This was an intentional, deliberate and unlawful use of force. Driving while Black continues to result in a death sentence. A 26-year veteran of the force knows the difference between a taser and a firearm."

The officer now faces a second degree manslaughter charge, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine up to $20,000. Can she raise a stupidity defense?

That wouldn't help. The issue doesn't concern how smart she is but whether or not she was negligent.

To convict her of second degree manslaughter, the prosecution must prove that Wright's death resulted from the defendant's "culpable negligence whereby the person creates an unreasonable risk, and consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm to another..."

The facts are still coming out, but my gut reaction is that the prosecution will have a difficult time convincing a jury. In a recent article, law professor Jonathan Turley discussed other instances in which officers have mistaken handguns for Tasers. Such evidence might create a reasonable doubt that Potter was so negligent it amounted to a crime.

The victim, Daunte Wright, was black. The cop was white. Did racial prejudice play a role?

Brooklyn Center's mayor, Mike Elliott, is black. Last September, he took a look at data the police department collected. He concluded that the numbers showed a pattern of racial disparity.

Some members of the city council disagreed, as did City Manager Curt Boganey. The data concerned a time period of about 14 months. Boganey said that it was "far too early to draw conclusions from the limited data."

Of 2,144 motorists stopped, 62 percent were black and 25 percent were white. However, 29 percent of the Brooklyn Center population is black and 44.5 percent white. What do you think?

Following the shooting of Daunte Wright, the police chief resigned and the city council fired the city manager.

[creatrs]

Local Leather | Shinola

Shinola. Made in Detroit, loved by all in LA. The high-end leather goods shop asked Creatrs to craft some bespoke pieces for their Tumblr in time for the launch of their Venice, CA store. So we met up with Allison Kunath, a local Venice artist, to shoot the women’s line in her studio. Leather goods ranged from weekend bags to wallets, watches, and a whole bunch of teeny tiny pouches. Tres chic.

Featured Creatr

Jace Lumley http://www.jacelumley.com/

[bloojayoolie]

Bad, Definitely, and Friday: REP TRUJILLO USA TODAY 132 hours to train teachers on guns: Is it enough? David Cole, of Black Man With A Gun Podcast responds to teacher training requirements and WE SAY DITTO! AMEN, Preach It Brother! “[Rant mode: ON] OK, folks. I get that many of you are not "gun people." I don't have an issue with people who are ignorant on this topic. What does piss me off is willful ignorance. If you really wish to understand, keep reading. People who think that some sort of "extensive" training is necessary for a teacher to defend against a school shooter do not know shit from Shinola. ANYONE who possesses BASIC competency with a concealed carry pistol can carry safely in a school, and can defend against a school shooter. Period. Full stop. First of all, none of these maniacs is looking for a gunfight. If they were, they'd go hit a police station or a Friends of NRA dinner. Historically, EVERY SINGLE TIME one of these losers run up against ANY armed resistance, they either flee, surrender, or commit suicide. The only exception to this rule are attacks by self-proclaimed jihadis, which we thankfully have yet to see at a school. (Though we will, eventually.) Second, no one is asking armed teachers to form a SWAT stack and head down the hallways to seek and destroy the attacker. Some might decide to go on offense, and we should thank God that such heroes exist. It's the type of courage that the coward deputy of Broward County wishes he had. But all a teacher needs to be able to do is to secure their classroom as well as possible, get the best cover they can, and point the gun at the door. Bad guy comes through door...shoot bad guy. Kids saved. In police circles, a common term for a door is "the fatal funnel." Do you know why that is? That's because it is the easiest place to get yourself shot while moving through a building. If somebody can hit a DOOR, they can hit you, if you hang out there too long. That's part of the so-called "extensive training" cops get (especially SWAT and active shooter response)...so they don't make themselves an EASY TARGET. Unless your school shooter knows and utilizes proper technique for entering a room through the "fatal funnel," guess what that makes him? You guessed it...an EASY TARGET. Don't get me wrong. Training is good. More training is great. But while there is no such thing as "too much," there is also such a thing as "enough," and most of the people making proposals like this don't know the difference. Let's just say that it definitely is not Shinola. [Rant mode: OFF] Have a lovely Friday.”

[tsgaustintexas]

21 Local Valentine’s Day Gifts For Him, Her + Y’all

February 14th is approaching quickly, and while we’d never turn down chocolates + roses, we’ve scouted 21 thoughtful and local gift ideas for your special someone, sweetheart, or significant other. Need some ideas for your galentine? We’ve got you covered with 8 Ways to Spend Galentine’s Day. 

Show your local businesses and your special someone love, and don’t forget to tell them Scout sent you! 

Something Sparkly | Rahya Jewelry Design has the most perfect pieces she’ll love wearing all day, every day.

Mom’s Night Out | Tap Mom’s Best Friend for the best sitters who’ll give Mom a much needed night out, stress-free. May we suggest you make reservations at Ranch 616?

Beautiful Blooms | Stop by Austin Design House and pick up the most gorgeous orchids in the most gorgeous pots. Two birds, one stone. 

Personalized Pretties | We love the Sweet Heart Necklace from Elisha Marie Jewelry. How cute would it be to engrave it with a special date?

Sweet Scents | Stop by A Custom House to pick up her favorite candle then head over to Fluff Meringues & More a few doors down! Rumor has it, Fluff has delicious seasonal goods hitting the case any day now!

Sweet Treats | Valentine’s Day isn’t complete without some sugar from 2tarts Bakery! How cute are these conversation heart cookies?

Roses Are Red | And violets are blue, gift Her these beautiful Cassandra Collection bobbles, She’s sure to thank you! P.S. reach out directly to Cassandra to get these beauties in red!

Winning Weekday Dinners | Whether you’re the chef or she is, indulge her with a week of delish, personalized meals from The Austin Artisan.

Self-Care for Your Sweetheart | If your man isn’t one for luxe toiletries, spoil him with one of our favorite lines at Paper Place, Preston. Don’t forget to pick up a Valentine's card for him while you’re there!

Brand New Boots | Head over to Estilo Men’s to outfit your guy with these gorgeous leather boots. Spiffy? We think yes.

Cool Chronographs | Time for a new watch? Hearth & Soul has the most gorgeous Shinola watches for Him.

The Best Beats | Head over to Apple at Domain NORTHSIDE to grab the new Airpod Plus he’s been eyeing! Guaranteed great gift.

Field Tote for a Field Date | From picnics and boat days (come warmer weather, of course) to last-minute grocery runs, this canvas tote available at Liz James Designs’ Gift Shop is a perfect and sustainable gift for him! 

An Accessory Update | There’s a difference between a nice patina and a need for a new wallet. Surprise Him with an ostrich card case from Tecova’s.

Backyard Putting Practice | Got a golf fanatic on your hands? Create a custom, backyard practice green with LawnPop. One can dream, right…

S’More Time Together | Grab indulgent s’more kits from Fluff Meringues & More, build a fire and enjoy time spent together. We recommend opening a bottle of wine too...

Cooking Classes | Carve out couple-time with cooking classes courtesy of La Pera. Talk about buen provecho!  

Sweetheart Shoot | Book a with Hannah Mayson Photo to celebrate your love. Stay tuned because Hannah’s tips for non-cheesy couples’ photos are coming to the blog soon!

Free Love | This Valentines Day exchange or renew your vows at with Loot Finer Goods + Loot Rentals’ Free Love event at Distribution Hall. They’ve got all the details covered, all you need to do is apply (hello@lootrentals.com) 

Date Night | Head out to The Wayback Café for their Valentine’s Day dinner. Not ready for the night to end? Book a sitter through Mom’s Best Friend and stay overnight in one of their adorable cottages!

A Sweet Escape | Spend the weekend together at Lake Austin Spa. Book now + stay before February 29 to take advantage of their Sweet Escape Package. Hint: lots of free credits!

[leidyandjosh-blog]

Coming at you LIVE from Nashville, Tennessee!!! Guys, today was a total BLAST! We shot at this beautiful modern industrial farmhouse wedding venue today, 14Tenn. We cannot wait to share all the gorgeous details from today’s styled shoot! Stay tuned for more update! For now enjoy this beautiful shot from Janell’s wedding! We LOVE Shinola watches! Well, mostly just Josh. 😊⠀ *⠀ *⠀ *⠀ *⠀ *⠀ #leidyandjosh #michiganwedding #michiganweddingphotographer #weddingphotoinspiration #grandrapidsweddingphotographer #westmichiganwedding #engagementphoto #weddinggoals #engaged💍 #lansingmichiganphotographer #weddingphotoshoot #grandrapidsmi #theknotweddings #wedding2019 #appleofmyeye #lovelycouple #engagements #isaidyes💍 #sheisthebest #beautifuldress #michiganphotographer #chicagoweddingphotographer #northernmichiganphotographer #wedding #weddingdecorations #whitewedding #miwedding #2019bride #grmichigan #shinolawatches (at Nashville, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByoX_mfAQBS/?igshid=ga5sfov9pjbn

[gonewithawhimm]

I have been flying to Detroit for about six years now. I have always seen it as a skulking shadow of it’s former Motor-town glory days. When I first came here, I imagined it to be this great city assembling a lot of the world’s automobiles but instead I saw and heard from locals about high crime rates, breaking-bad style crack dens in abandoned buildings, post-recession bankruptcy hangover so my brief visits were always a little too brief.  Over the last few trips, I have been seeing something new. Detroit seems to be reinventing itself, brick by brick and idea by idea. It is still kind of gritty in parts but I can tell it’s changing. I hear businesses and investments have been moving and opening shop in Detroit, including Nike, Quicken Loans, Shinola, Google amidst others. The automobile companies have a new purpose leaning into the electric car and auto-driving trends. There are a lot of cool new restaurants, craft cocktail bars, coffee shops, co-working spaces. @heynowsarah and @jchouinard83 took us around to a lot of new places. Sounds like all of this will create more jobs, more revenue, and lift the residents from the doldrums but will it trickle down to the people who need to be lifted the most? I hope so. I see your spunk and spirit, Detroit—and I’m shooting for your comeback. 👌🏼🏜 (at Detroit, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxn0OR1H5jO/?igshid=13tef4y86b7vf

[paulorwell-blog]

The Shittery: A Lexicon of Modern Trumpspeak

(From Total Sh*t Donald Trump, available as a free ebook here)

Donnie’s shit so permeates every aspect of our lives that he is turning America into a total shittery, a place so muddied by browns that even familiar shit can be unrecognizable. This Shittery will help you get your bearings in our Trump-centered world, providing explanations for how and why the shit truly hits the fan. Just below it are some un-shitty bonus definitions. 

We welcome suggestions, revisions, and insertions. Email paul@paulorwell.com 

AIN’T GOT / Ain’t got shit on me: Trump’s position on Russia 

ALL OVER / Shit all over: Donnie trolls latest target 

BAD / Bad shit: Trump not happy 

BANG / Bang like a shithouse door in a gale: door noise as fired staffers exit 

BARR / (i) complete idiot (ii) current Attorney General BE- / Beshits: soil with presidential 70 BE- / Beshits: soil with presidential excrement 

BEAR / Does a bear shit in the woods?: Does Trump fabricate facts? 

BEAT / Beat the shit out of: punishment meted out to dissenters at Trump rally 

BED / Shit the bed: Donnie tweets in the morning 

BETWEEN / Stuck between a shit and a sweat: Republicans facing re-election 

BIRD / Stick that bottom lip out any further and a bird might shit on it: Trump pouts at Merkel 

BRAINS / Shit for brains: matter inside Trump’s cranium 

BREATH / Shit breath: Donnie needs Tic Tacs 

BRICK / Shit a brick: start building The Wall 

BRICKHOUSE / Built like a brick shithouse: able to withstand caravans 

BULL / Bullshit: only language Trump speaks fluently 

BURGER / Shitburger: dinner ordered for college football championship teams 

CANNED / Shitcanned: fired while literally sitting on toilet, e.g. Rex Tillerson 

CAT / Slicker than catshit on linoleum: Sarah Huckabee Sanders 

CAT- / cat-shit crazy: DJT after unfair segment on Fux News 

CHEAP / Cheap shit: Trump-branded rubbish meant to evoke wealth 

CHOCOLATE-COVERED / Chocolate-covered shit: sweeten it up, swallow it down! 

CREEK / Up shit creek: our environment at present; both water and climate not good 

CROCK / Crock of shit: Barr’s summary of Mueller report 

DADDLE / Shitdaddle: run away from the president 

DEEP / Deep shit: Trump thinks for a second 

DIP / Dipshit: stock market goes down after a Trump tweet 

DOG / Dogshit: women Donnie finds unattractive 

DUMB / Dumb shit: Donald J. Trump 

EAT / Eat shit: work for POTUS 45 

-ERATI / Shitterati: celebrities attending the 2016 inauguration 

FACED / Shit-faced: Trump after applying tanning lotion 

FAN / When the shit hits the fan: Trump bodyguard punches protester 

FIT / Have a shit-fit: Donnie reads bad press 

FLIES / Like flies on shit: religious right visits White House 

FOR BRAINS / Shit-for-brains: Tillerson’s assessment of Donnie 

FRIGHTEN / Frighten the shit out of: Russian pee-tapes 

FUCKING / Fucking shit: Trump has extramarital sex 

FULL OF / Full of shit: 2+ days since Trump had bowel movement 

GET / Get one’s shit together: prepare for deposition 

GIBBON / Shitgibbon: Trump explaining himself 

GIVE / Give a shit (or two shits): POTUS 45 does not 

GIVE SOMEONE / Give someone shit: be Donald Trump 

GOT / Got the shits: Trump gets letter from the Southern District of New York 

GRIN / shit-eating grin: Donnie after Mueller report 

HAPPENS / Shit happens: Trump’s work philosophy 

HEAD / Shithead: golden hair on pate 

HOLE / Shithole: any country in Africa 

HOLY / Holy shit: The Pope; Donnie calls him “disgraceful” 

HORSE / Horseshit: Trump University coursework 

HOT / Hot shit: (i) Trump under a sunbed; (ii) attractive female to Donnie 

HOUSE / Shithouse: Mar-a-Lago 

HUMAN / Shitty human: Donnie 

IGNORANT / Ignorant shit: Stephen Miller 

IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD / Shit in your own backyard: pro-Trump rally in your home city 

JACK / Jack-shit: what Donnie gives to charity 

KING / King Shit: Donald Trump 

LIST / Shit list: (i) Democrats who annoy Donnie; (ii) loyalists who contradict him 

LITTLE / Little shit: Marco 

LOT OF _ TO DO / Lot of shit to do: many attorneys to speak to 

LUCK / Shit out of luck: Trump’s casinos close down 

LUMP OF / Lump of shit: Donnie MEAN / Mean shit: (i) Robert Mueller; (ii) lie 

NASTY / Soft as shit and twice as nasty: Trump in bed 

NO / No shit: Trump out of office 

NOSE / Shitnose: head up Donald’s rectum, e.g. Barr, Bolton, Jared 

OH / Oh shit!: realization on waking that it isn’t a dream - Donnie is POTUS 

OLD / Old shit: Donald Trump 

-OSPHERE / Shitosphere: within farting distance of DJT 

OUT OF LUCK / see Luck 

PACK UP / Pack up your shit: electoral result of 2020 

PANTS / Shit one’s pants: defeated by Nancy Pelosi 

PAPER / Shitpaper: Washington Post, New York Times 

PIECE / Piece of shit: any Democrat in Trump’s eyes 

PIG / Happy as a pig in shit: Stephen Miller 

PILE / Pile of shit: inbound mail to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue 

PISS AND CORRUPTION / Shit, piss, and corruption: Donnie’s daily routine 

PUSHING UPHILL / Pushing shit uphill: reasoning with Donnie 

REMEMBER / Can’t remember shit: Trump under oath 

RICH AS / Rich as shit: as rich as Donnie, i.e. not that rich at all 

-SACK / Shit-sack: Donnie’s physique 

SACK DAY / Shit-sack Day: holiday celebrated after Trump loses, retires, or is impeached 

SACK OF / Sack of shit: Donnie’s physique 

SAME OLD / Same old shit: another day in the Oval Office for Donnie 76 

SANDWICH / Shit sandwich: squashed by Donnie on the mattress 

SAUNA / Shit sauna: Trump’s tanning bed 

-SCRAPER / Shitscraper (i) Trump Tower at 725 5th Avenue, New York; (ii) metal bar to remove shit from boots 

SCENE / Shitty scene: Donnie explaining to wife where he has been and with whom 

SHERLOCK / No shit, Sherlock: Donnie to Mueller 

SHINOLA / Know the difference between shit and Shinola: Trump doesn’t 

SHOOT / Shoot the shit: apprehend illegal immigrant with gun 

SHOVEL / Shovel shit: hold press conference for Donnie 

SHOW / Shitshow: The Apprentice 

SNIFFLE / Shit sniffle: subtle sign that Trump’s parking a turd 

SOFT / Soft as shit: Donald Trump without an election/erection 

SQUIRREL / Nuttier than squirrel shit: Ben Carson 

STACK / Didn’t know you could stack shit that high: (eventual) realization of Rex Tillerson 

STAIN / Shit stain: self-tanning lotion on clothes 

STINK / His shit doesn’t stink: Trump guarantees it 

STIR UP / Stir up shit: send a tweet 

STIRRER / Shit-stirrer: New York Times 

STOMPERS / Shit stompers: supporters at Trump rallies 

STORM / Shit storm: Hurricane Maria 

SWEATS / Shit sweats: what congressional Republicans feel when defending their man 

TAKE / Take shit from: remove papers from Resolute desk 

THE / The shits: (i) feeling after listening to Donnie; (ii) the Cabinet 

-TER / Shitter: place where Donnie tweets 

THICK / Thick as shit: born with Trump’s intelligence 

THROW / Throw shit against the wall: manhandle a protester 

TICKET / Shit ticket: Trump + Pence for 2020 

TON / Shit ton: large number two 

TOO OLD / Too old for this shit: Steven Bannon 

TOUGH / Tough shit: President Putin 

TRUMP- / Trumpshit: pure presidential excrement 

TURNED TO / Turned to shit: Donnie touched it 

UP TO YOUR NECK IN / Up to your neck in shit: investigating Donnie, e.g. New York district attorney 

WEIRD / Weird shit: POTUS 43’s opinion of POTUS 45’s inauguration speech 

WENT OUT / Went out to shit and the hog ate him: staffer went to see POTUS and got fired 

WRITES ITSELF / This shit writes itself: ink from Steven Miller’s pen 

ZERO / Zero shits given: Trump aid to Puerto Rico 

(From Total Sh*t Donald Trump, available as a free ebook here)

[effortlesslysophisticated]

Spring Fling Exec Life

Spring Fling Exec Life

  Well it is better late than never. I cannot believe I am finally getting around to sharing all of my recent styling work. This spring fling shoot was featured in the March/April issue of D Business Magazine. Oh and I sure have to tell you a stressful story too! So for a lot of photo shoots, I request pieces directly from the brand. Max Mara, Jimmy Choo, and Shinola were all sample requests.…

[businessliveme]

American Road Trips You Must Take in This Lifetime

The days are getting longer, and the weather’s getting warmer: It’s time for a good, old-fashioned road trip.

Embrace a quirky detour or two along classic highways and byways to discover America’s most exciting cultural debuts, food oases, and fast-evolving cities. Best of all, no roadside motel needed.

Each of the five weeklong itineraries below includes overnights at some of the country’s most lavish new spots, even in rustic locales unaccustomed to five-star digs such as Yellowstone National Park.

What are you waiting for? The open road awaits.

A Delicious Southern Drive

Ready to take on the biscuit byways? Or hit the sweet tea circuit? Whatever you want to call your adventure through the South, food will be front and center—now more than ever.

Days 1-3: Start in Charleston, S.C., where the plush Hotel Bennett has just opened in a historic building on King Street—right next to some of the city’s hottest new restaurants, such as Melfi’s. (The hotel’s own restaurant Gabrielle, which merges Charleston flavors and European techniques, is getting plenty of buzz, too.)

Want to get hands-on with the city’s food history? The French Quarter Inn has just started food tours with local chef Benjamin Dennis, who famously showed Anthony Bourdain around town for his Parts Unknown series.

Day 4: Then head three hours north to Greenville, S.C., a charming culinary center in the making. It’s where Sean Brock recently opened an outpost of Husk, one of the country’s most venerated love letters to Southern cuisine.

The Anchorage, Greenville’s other destination dining spot with a daily-changing small plates menu, has just been shortlisted for a James Beard Award. Bookmark a brand-new food hall called Gather GVL featuring HenDough (a fried chicken and doughnuts spot) and a craft beer emporium, and you’ll be full as long as you decide to stay.

Day 5: A (temporary) break from all the gluttony awaits in Asheville, N.C., where a new hotel called The Foundry is within walking distance of the breweries and old-timey shops downtown; it’s also a few minutes away from the city’s thriving River Arts district. But more important, a stop here gets you closer to the capstone of your foodie pilgrimage, Blackberry Farm, which lies two and a half hours west across the Tennessee border.

Days 6-8: Book into the resort’s new wellness-oriented spinoff, Blackberry Mountain, to explore the Great Smoky Mountains by day and then stuff yourself silly by night. The resort’s active offerings include bouldering and aerial yoga in what’s essentially a private concession of the national park, plus access to the iconic restaurants at the main hotel. And, if you’d rather not fly from Knoxville’s tiny airport nearby (which offers limited connectivity even to major hubs), you’ll be only three hours away from Nashville, where a rooftop concert series is soon to kick off at the music-centric Bobby Hotel and swish properties such as the Dream are bringing elevated levels of luxury to a down-home city you likely know and love.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge Tennessee

What to drive? A Porsche Macan GTS. The best-selling SUV is large enough to hold all your roadside finds but small and sporty enough for some spirited driving on all those blue-smoke Appalachian back roads (it’s a Porsche, after all).

The Essential National Parks Pilgrimage

Whether you’re seeking America’s most awe-inspiring sights for a humbling perspective or doing it for the ’gram, there’s never been a better time to drive through the rugged West—especially if you prefer to sleep in the lap of luxury.

Day 1: Since you’re likely spending most of your trip off the grid, start with a totally different vibe in Las Vegas. The recently opened NoMad resists the themed schtick of most hotels on the Strip and aims for classy—but of course that’s all relative, and when its new pool opens this month, Moroccan-inspired weekend parties will be helmed by boldface names such as Mark Ronson and DJ Five.

Days 2-3: Set out north on Interstate 15, past Valley of Fire State Park and the Beaver Dam and toward Zion National Park in Utah. If you’re lucky, you’ll be sleeping at Amangiri—but since the resort’s sandstone suites book up far in advance, you may have better luck at the Amira Resort in St. George, which incorporates elements of Native American design. Use either one as a hub to explore the nearby natural attractions: not just Zion, but Bryce Canyon and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Days 3-5: Head north toward Park City, Utah, where Auberge’s latest five-star resort, The Lodge at Blue Sky, is opening any day now. With pristine access to 3,500 acres of sagebrush-covered mountains, it’s a perfect spot for leisurely clay pigeon shoots and nighttime hikes lit only by the full moon.

Days 6-8: A long day of driving (roughly six hours) will get you to Yellowstone National Park. Just on the edge of the park is the new Sage Lodge, where you can live out your Wild West fantasies, whether that means fly-fishing, horseback riding, or searching for buffalo.

Day 9: You’ll eventually have to fly out of Helena, Mont., but pit-stopping in nearby Bozeman will give you an easier re-entry into civilization. The city is in the midst of a cultural renaissance: The Rialto theater has just been fully renovated (and hosts live music several nights of the week), galleries such as Cello and Tierney Fine Art put a spotlight on the makers of the American West, and the Museum of the Rockies has one of the largest dinosaur fossil collections in the world.

What to drive? The Jaguar F-Pace. It’s stylish and functional, with a panoramic sunroof that’s perfect for taking in all of the tall peaks you’ll be passing.

Hill Country, and Then Some

Texas doesn’t offer the most scenic driving, but pretty much everything else about this town-and-country itinerary is as crowd-pleasing as it gets.

Days 1-3: Of course you can get stellar brisket and ribs within Austin’s city limits, but you’re here to explore Hill Country, just a few miles away. So check into one of Austin’s funky newcomers (The Line, South Congress Hotel, and the Liz Lambert-designed Austin Motel all get two thumbs-up), and then U-turn straight out of town. Try Opie’s, a half-hour northeast, for its sweet, spicy, and sticky baby back ribs one day; the next, venture along supposedly haunted highways to Milt’s for expertly charred brisket. Want some of the most fabled sausage links in the country? Make your pilgrimage to Salt Lick, or try the less-iconic (meaning: less touristy, but no less delicious) Payne’s Bar-B-Q Shak in the tiny town of Burnet instead.

Days 4-6: Go in the opposite direction as most road trippers, by skipping Marfa and heading to Houston instead. (It’s just a two-and-a-half-hour drive—much better than the six-and-change it takes to get to the sleepy arts town.) The largest city in Texas is having a banner year, with a host of museum openings and renovations, four new jumbo food courts, and a worth-the-trip exhibit at the Johnson Space Center honoring the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s moon landing. Plus, you might even catch the spring rodeo if you plan your trip just right.

Days 7-9: You can hightail it to New Orleans in a relatively uneventful five hours, or you can make a day of it with a few fun stops. Amelia Farm & Market is a working pecan farm with grade-A lunch options in Beaumont, Texas, Bread & Circus Provisions in Lafayette, La., recently earned a James Beard nod for its standout pizzas, and the Oak Valley Plantation is a stunning estate that serves as an important reminder of the South’s history. (There’s a small but noteworthy exhibit documenting the area’s ties to slavery right on-site.) You’ll still make it to New Orleans in time to have a night out on the town, and if you’re staying at Maison de la Luz, a whimsically designed entry from the developers of the Ace Hotels, you won’t have to go far—the property’s West Indies-inspired Library Bar and Italian restaurant, Josephine Estelle, are both among the city’s most of-the-moment hangouts.

What to drive? The Audi R8 V10—a fast and smooth option for all those wide-open, flat roads.

America’s B-Sides

You might not want to carve out a full week to explore each of the Midwest’s best cities, but linking them on a road trip is a great way to see how artistic innovation is roaring through the country’s core.

Days 1-2: The four-month-old Shinola Hotel is the nucleus of all that’s new in Detroit, with its Andrew Carmellini-led restaurant and retail alley with only made-in-Detroit goods (hit up the Brakeman beer hall and weekend-wear specialist Good Neighbor). But it also has strong competition from two other new hotels in town, The Siren and the Detroit Foundation Hotel—both with bold design schemes and plenty of smart local partnerships. With at least $5 billion in major development projects happening across the city, there’s a lot of change in the air, but one neighborhood well into its stride is New Center. For excellent eating, you’ll find the Afro-Caribbean Yum Village and the fine dining spot Cuisine. As for where to drink? Standby has all the whiz-bang tricks up its sleeve as the most creative bars in Manhattan, while Bad Luck goes for more of a retro, Gilded Age vibe (even its run-of-the-mill beers are served in Champagne flutes).

Days 3-4: There’s never a bad time to stop in Chicago, so check into the new Hoxton hotel in the Fulton Market District and eat your way around the neighborhood; it’s right by classic spots Momotaro and Au Cheval, and beloved local chef Stephanie Izard has just opened a ceviche spot right at the hotel. Afterward, make time for a quick culture crawl. Theaster Gates has a new multimedia show up at Gray Warehouse through June, there’s an ode to the 100-year anniversary of the Bauhaus movement and its connections to the Windy City at the Matthew Rachman Gallery, and a musical adaptation of August Rush with Broadway aspirations will be playing at the Paramount Theater all season.

Day 5: Make it an early morning so that you’re in Indianapolis in time for brunch at Milktooth; the city is three hours away, and one of the country’s hotbeds for culinary innovation. Then continue eating your way through our guide of its most exciting new restaurants.

Days 6-7: There’s so much more to St. Louis than the Arch, a straight shot down Interstate 10. In fact, its compact and highly walkable arts district has a youthful energy and officially includes more than 60 cultural venues, including the second-oldest symphony in the U.S. and the gilded Fabulous Fox theater. At the recently popped Angad Arts Hotel, David Miskit, the former night manager of Studio 54, is trying to conjure the same funky energy at the hotel as he did at the famed club; think impromptu odes to Dirty Dancing by local troupes or unannounced aria concertos in the middle of the lobby.

Days 8-9: Culminate your trip in Kansas City, Mo., less than four hours away. It’s dubbing itself the heart of the “New Midwest” thanks to a proliferation of homegrown creativity that spans from chocolatier Christopher Elbow (whose wildflower honey bonbons are a dream) to the mural park at the Crossroads Arts District (think of it like Miami’s Wynwood) to the many local businesses (like coffee shop The Wild Way and florist KC Bloom Co.) that operate out of retro camper vans. You know a city’s creative clout has reached fever pitch when a 21C Museum Hotel opens, as one did here last summer, with 120 art-filled rooms in the historic Savoy building.

What to drive? The Ford Mustang GT—an American icon that shares its roots with your first destination.

California’s Next Great Hits

By focusing on just a small subsection of the usual Highway 1 drive, you’ll make time for a handful of oft-overlooked gems.

Day 1: If you can’t resist the pull of Los Angeles, stick around for the day before embarking on your real adventure. (Maybe that means checking out Audrey, a new indoor-outdoor, vegetable-driven restaurant at the Hammer Museum before whirling through its critically acclaimed retrospective on conceptual artist Allen Ruppersberg.) You’ll have a good excuse to check out what all the fuss about DTLA is, too.

Days 2-3: The Ojai Valley Inn is just 80 miles up the coast, abutting the Los Padres National Forest. It’s been there for what feels like forever, but a newly added farmhouse is reinvigorating its offerings, particularly food. Visiting chefs (Enrique Olvera, Missy Robbins, Dario Cecchini) are slated to cook dinners and teach workshops throughout the year. That high-level touch is right in step with its namesake town, which is seeing a proliferation of galleries and design shops.

Days 4-5: As you set out for Montecito, look out for the “100 Year Bloom,” where the hillsides of Southern California erupt in every shade of yellow and orange following significant rainy periods. Within 45 minutes you’ll arrive at Rosewood Miramar, where everything—from the 161 rooms and suites to the Goop-branded souvenir shop—is fresh off a Beverly Hills-worthy face-lift. Your M.O.: Spend one day in a poolside cabana soaking up rays, and another in nearby Santa Barbara scoping out the artsy and industrial Funk Zone.

Days 6-7: Work your way up the coast, stopping at Hotel Skyview, a recently restyled motel in Los Alamos for an al fresco lunch that starts with Morro Bay oysters and ends with blackberry-smothered goat’s milk cheesecake. Check ahead: If the slick Hotel Cerro in San Luis Obispo hasn’t opened by the time you’re hitting the road, consider extending your lunch into a lazy overnight. You can do far worse than the wineries and tasting rooms in this charming, under-the-radar swath of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Days 8-9: Last stop: Big Sur. After four hours on the road you’ll be rewarded by drop-dead views as you cross Pfeiffer Canyon and make your way to Ventana Big Sur, with its rustic-luxe, timber-framed guest rooms. Book a massage in an outdoor treatment room at the spa, sit on the patio and crack a few bottles from the 10,000-label cellar, or spend a night in one of the resort’s five-star campsites scattered among the redwoods—this is a celebration of warm weather at its finest.

What to drive? A Bentley Continental GT Convertible. It’s the biggest, most luxurious, and most comfortable choice to stash all your luggage and still take in the sky.

The post American Road Trips You Must Take in This Lifetime appeared first on Businessliveme.com.

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[mndoughboy1918]

Letter to Ruth

July 17, 1918 - Letter from Robert to his sister Ruth:

July 17, 1918

Co. B. 140 Inf.

A.P.O. #743

Amer. E.F.

Dear Ruth, 

I do not know whether I should write to you or not. I have not heard from you for a long time, but I must write home and no doubt there is a letter from you on the way.

Helen tells me that you were visiting Bess last month. I hope you had a nice time.

It is very hot here now. Much hotter than St. Paul. I don’t know whether I can stand it or not, but I am going to try. Tell Helen I really “wish it was winter” as she used to say.

Some time ago while I was in another town very near the German lines, where there was lots of shooting on both sides, we were never surprised to hear the big shells whistle over us, or burst so close that one feels sure that he is as good as dead. I was standing watching a German airplane which was trying, I guess, to get across the lines, but couldn’t because our anti-air craft guns were too active when I saw a pack mule come galloping down the mountain trail. The poor mule did not have a pack and was not used to the noise of artillery fire. It looked funny to see the poor mule run so fast. We all felt sure that the poor mule was a deserter, when someone said, “Deserter nothing, he is hurrying back for more supplies.” We all laughed but really it was a play with a moral. After that mule made several trips up the mountain he would go along with the rest, hardly noticing the booming. That is just what they have been doing with us boys. Getting us used to it, so when we are called on “to go over the top” we will all be there.

By the time you get this I suppose you will be getting ready to start school again. I hope you will be glad that you have the chance to go. In France when a girl gets to be your age, unless she is very rich, she must work. Lots of girls your age work in the hay fields. I don’t see how they stand it. I don’t believe I could. So be glad as I am glad that you are an American.

We are now camped in a very beautiful little valley. There is a little stream at the bottom where I swim nearly every evening. The big green forest covered hills on each side which we call mountains when we have to climb them. It makes us feel secure from the outside world of war. When the people built the towns here they must have felt the same. It is so peaceful even now that one feels lazy. I imagine that in peace time it is so lazy that there is no progress. You can not help but yawn when you see a team of cows yoked to a wagon coming down the road at the rate of about a yard a minute. Rockford is a busy place compared to this, and you think that is dead.

I suppose you drive the Ford out to the lake real often. I wish I could be there to eat some fruit. There should be lots of apples and cherries this year.

I am going to get my picture taken some time soon and will send you one.

I want you to find my tan shoes and put a can of red Shinola in one and mail them to me. Will you. Now don’t forget.

It is too warm to wear my sweater now but I keep it with me because I know it will soon be cold again. I use it for a pillow now.

Well I must quit now as it is time for supper.

Later:

We had macaroni + tomatoes, fried potatoes, bread + coffee tonight.

I am sending you a silk handkerchief. I do not know who would use such a flimsy thing as it is, but it is pretty to look at any way.

Love to all,

Rob.

Robert was pretty salty in this one - clearly he was getting irked at not getting as much mail as he would have liked. But I think it says a lot that Ruth kept this letter, despite her brother’s tone.

Where was Robert today? See the timeline.

Next: Elinore